PA-Gov Endorsements: Unions, Politicians, and a Heavyweight Champ

Written by Nick Field, Contributing Writer

Heavyweight champion Larry Holmes

It was a busy week in the race to become the Democratic nominee for governor in 2014. The campaigns of State Treasurer Rob McCord, former Department of Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski were all touting endorsements that cover the entire political spectrum.

Rob McCord

First up is Rob McCord who received the backing of Local 66 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). Based in Pittsburgh, the Local 66 branch represents almost 7,000 members in 33 counties throughout western Pennsylvania.

“Governor Corbett has been particularly hard on working families, and I’ve stood up to him every chance I’ve gotten,” McCord said. “So it gives me great pleasure to accept the endorsement of Local 66, because I believe it’s time we had a governor who wants to create opportunities for Pennsylvania families instead of making life more difficult for them. This endorsement is a market signal that our commitment to creating jobs and improving economic security is being well received.”

“Local 66 believes Rob McCord’s experience and success in both the private and public sectors make him uniquely qualified to grow Pennsylvania’s economy as governor,” said Local 66 Business Manager Jim Kunz. “Rob’s been there. He knows what Pennsylvania families are going through. I know he’ll take that with him to the governor’s office and that’s why we’re with him. Rob McCord is the guy to get it done for Pennsylvania’s working families.”

The McCord campaign also pointed out that this represents its fourth union endorsement of the campaign.

Tom Wolf

Meanwhile, Tom Wolf received a show of support from State Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) who endorsed the former Secretary of the Department of Revenue in a new web video.

“I’m here to endorse Tom Wolf for Governor,” said Rep. Sturla. “I’ve known Tom for more than twenty years, and Tom has the ability to not just move us past the Corbett administration, but to let Pennsylvania realize all the potential that it has, and that we know it has.”

Wolf is a native of York, a neighboring county of Lancaster which Rep. Sturla has represented in the state House since 1991.

The video is included below:

Ed Pawlowski

In what is undoubtedly the most surprising endorsement of the week, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski announced the support of Larry Holmes. Yes, that Larry Holmes. Apparently, in addition to being a former Heavyweight Champion, Holmes is an Easton native where he owns a number of businesses.

“I greatly appreciate the support of Larry Holmes, who is a legend, champion, and important to the business community in Pennsylvania,” Pawlowski said. “In addition, I’m glad these other elected officials have joined our fight to defeat Tom Corbett and to counter the failed leadership that is sending our commonwealth down the wrong path. Together we will work to move Pennsylvania forward on the road to prosperity.”

Pawlowski also revealed that he was endorsed by less famous Pennsylvanians including Co-Chair of Monroe County Democrats Hector Citron; Reading City Councilman Jeff Waltman and Lehigh County Commissioner Dan McCarthy. Most prominent among his new political supporters, though, is Erie City Council President Jim Winarski.

Other candidates for Governor include former DEP Secretaries John Hanger and Katie McGinty, as well as Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz.